2008 Mini Cooper S reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2008 Mini Cooper S — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 197
- 2 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 78 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 1 reported crash · 3 injuries · 12 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,599
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Mini median
-23
median 220 across 19 Mini records
Vs 2006-2010
-75
median 272 complaints in 785 records
Top component share
40%
Engine: 78 complaints
What owners report fails — 2008 Mini Cooper S
- ENGINE 78
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 36
- AIR BAGS 30
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8
- POWER TRAIN 6
3 recalls on record for the 2008 Mini Cooper S
- NHTSA 23V337000 · 2024 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
- NHTSA 18V248000 · 2018 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLIN If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
- NHTSA 12V008000 · 2012 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLIN THE CIRCUIT BOARD MAY SMOLDER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2008 Mini Cooper S
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2008 Mini Cooper S units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Mini Cooper S reliable?
NHTSA has 197 consumer complaints on record for the 2008 Mini Cooper S and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (78 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2008 Mini Cooper S units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mini Cooper S?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (78), engine and engine cooling (36), air bags (30), electrical system (8). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2008 Mini Cooper S?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.